The Rejected Luna’s Return

PAMELA'S POV I learned something important the day I became Luna— power does not stop people from hurting you. It only gives them a larger audience. “You useless Luna,” Becca snapped in anger, pushing my shoulder. I stumbled back but managed not to fall. I looked at my sister in law. “The hall isn't available now. It's undergoing renovations,” I said, keeping my voice calm. If she even sensed that I was angry, she was going to beat me. And I could never fight back. “That's a lie. You just don't want me to use it for my party tonight. You know how important it is. I told you to speed up the work,” Becca stepped closer. “Are you stupid and daft?” I pulled my lips into a thin line. “Becca, I'm sorry. Maybe we can-” She didn't let me finish. She raised her hand and slapped me, shutting me up. I held my face in shock. “I have no idea why my brother even agreed to marry you. Filthy animal,” she spat, glaring at me before she walked past, hitting me in the shoulder. As she passed, I noticed someone standing by the corner. Those dark amber eyes stared into mine, causing my heart to skip a beat. He'd seen her slap me. “Darius…,” I started to say but he turned and walked away as if I had not spoken at all. Something inside my chest cracked quietly - the soundless breaking of hope I had been clinging to for years. He'd seen his sister slap me… and he was going to do nothing about it. I told myself that my husband was busy. As Alpha of Blackstone pack, he had so much more to do than handle a little misunderstanding between his sister and his wife. Yes. I raised my chin. I was Luna and I could handle this. It was my duty as his wife to take care of anything that came my way. Not him. Still, it hurt. He couldn't even ask me if I was okay. Becca was going to have a problem with me for as long as I couldn't get her the hall. It was her birthday today and a mating festival. She wanted to throw a party in the pack’s main hall. I told her that repairs were taking too long but she didn't believe it. “Fix your face, Pamela,” I told myself, as my fingers touched my cheek. It was hot from the slap. “You are the Luna of this pack. You don't break under pressure.” I turned and headed toward the Main Hall. The only way to fix this was to get the hall ready in time for Becca's party. Darius could fix this. As I searched for Darius, I passed by a group of friends. They were pack females who liked to linger near the fountain of the large pack house compound. They giggled as I approached. I ignored them. “Have you seen the Alpha?” I asked. They shook their heads. “Is it true?” one of them asked. I knew her as Maya. She'd always had an issue with me being Luna. There was a fake smile on her face. “I heard Becca put you in your place today. The mark on your face says it,” her smile grew bigger, “It must be so hard, being a Luna without a wolf.” “It was simply a disagreement over renovation,” I replied. “That's it. Focus on your own duties, Maya.” I wanted to leave when her voice stopped me. “Oh, we are. We’re focusing on the festival tonight. And on who the Alpha is going to have the first dance with. Since you’re so busy with repairs.” They laughed amongst themselves and I felt my cheeks burn with embarrassment. I didn't know about the first dance. Darius hadn’t mentioned it. He hadn’t said anything real to me in weeks. I walked past them, trying not to cry. I needed to find him. I needed to see those amber eyes and find the man who had claimed me in front of the moon goddess. If he was still the same. I asked around and realized that he'd left for an important meeting. I would have to wait until the festival for him. I took a deep breath. I will see him later. I avoided Becca as much as I could, helping out with the setup for the festival. Afterwards, I hid in Elias’ room, playing with him. My five year old son I had with Darius was the only reason I did everything I did. He was my strength when the pack was cruel. When the festival started and I couldn't hide anymore, I slipped into a beautiful lilac dress that flowed to the ground like flower petals. I overheard a pack member saying that the Alpha was back. I walked over to them. “Do you know where I can find Darius?” I asked. “I think he was in the garden,” someone, who was kind enough to answer, replied. I smoothened my hair down with my hands and wiped invisible dust from my dress. I was trying to look like the woman an Alpha could be proud of, someone Darius could be proud to call his wife. As I walked to the garden, I took a small plate of honey cakes. It was going to be my excuse to see him. I remembered the first time we met. We shared honey cake together. I told myself that if I just tried harder, he would look at me the way he used to. That tonight might be different. Smiling, I turned and stopped, the breath leaving my lungs as I saw that familiar figure again. This time, he wasn't alone. I opened my mouth to call him, still smiling. Until I saw the other woman. She was tall, carrying herself with the kind of grace and confidence that I lacked. She leaned towards him like it was something she had done so many times. I knew her… Her lips moved as she said something I couldn't hear. Her hand rested gently on his chest. My breath stopped as I watched them. My eyes moved from her to my husband. Darius didn't pull away. He didn't walk away from her like he had done to me earlier today. Instead, he lowered his head and kissed her. The dessert fell from my hand, the plate shattering on the stone ground. “Serena?” I called the name of the woman next to him. My heart sounded too fast in my ears and my hands started to shake. Darius stepped back, his eyes finding mine. I expected to see guilt. Instead, I saw irritation. Serena didn't try to hide or leave. She smiled. “Pamela, you shouldn't be here.” Darius started to say but then we head footsteps behind us. “Mommy!” I turned and fell on my knee, ready to take Elias in my hands so he didn't have to see his father with another woman. Instead, he ran past me into Serena’s hands. “Mommy!”